Chemistry M.S. Program

There are three types of Masters of Science (M.S.) degrees offered:

- M.S. Plan A: Requires a formal, published thesis, 10 M.S. Thesis Credits (CHEM 8777) and 20 credits of coursework. An oral final defense with a three-member committee is required.
- M.S. Plan B: Requires two graded projects (CHEM 8081 and CHEM 8082, 4 credits each) and 30 credits of coursework. The eight (8) credits for the project count toward the 30 credit total, as do one credit each for the ethics and seminar courses. An oral final defense is optional, but a three-member committee still renders a final decision on the M.S. projects. Students in the Ph.D. program work concurrently towards this M.S. degree plan. For example, for a student who passes their written and oral preliminary exams, the WPE and OPE typically serve as the two graded projects for CHEM 8081 and 8082.
- M.S. Plan C: Requires 30 credits of coursework. There is no written or oral final defense. Typically, the chemistry DGS serves as academic advisor. Students applying for the M.S. Plan C program should not expect financial support from the Department of Chemistry. While the M.S. Plan C is entirely course-based, acceptance into the M.S. Plan C program requires evidence for lab competence, which may be fulfilled, e.g., at least four undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses or equivalent chemistry experiences in industrial internships or employment or chemistry research experiences in academia (e.g., through directed research or summer undergraduate research). Computational or theoretical chemistry labs and research experiences are allowed as well.

Ph.D. students fulfill the M.S. Plan B degree requirements concurrent with the written and oral preliminary exams during the second year of study. All of the instructions below still apply, regardless of whether a student is attempting an M.S. degree independent of the preliminary exam process or as part of that process.

Students wishing to plan a Master’s program should consult with their research advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and/or Three Member Advising Committee. While graduate course credits earned at other accredited institutions may be transferred subject to approval by the chemistry DGS, a minimum of 60% of total course credits (not including thesis credits) required for a specific master’s degree must be taken at the University of Minnesota. Transferred credits can include a maximum of 12 graduate course credits taken at UMN as a “non-degree seeking” or “non-admitted” student (the remaining 18 credits meet the 60% minimum UMN credits).

Academic Performance

The Department of Chemistry requires that M.S. candidates maintain a GPA of 2.8 among those graduate courses ultimately submitted on the M.S. Degree Program Form. When this requirement is not met, M.S. candidates will be dropped from the program. To be considered in good academic standing, and therefore eligible for continuation of departmental support, reasonable progress toward completion of the non-course requirements of the M.S. Plan A and B programs is expected. The Plan B M.S. program for a full-time student should typically be completed by the end of the fall semester of the second year in residence. If a student has been reclassified into the Plan B M.S. program without sufficient time to complete the degree requirements by the end of the fall semester of the second year in residence, program completion in the following semester is expected.

M.S. Plan A

COURSES

Students must complete an approved program of coursework consisting of a minimum of 20 credits in the field of their major. The balance of credits to be completed to meet the 30-credit minimum requirement is chosen by agreement between the advisor and the student. All credits in the Degree Program must be in graduate-level courses.

FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION

At the time that the M.S. Degree Program Form is submitted the student should also submit the M.S. Oral Examination Prospective Committee Form with the names of two Chemistry and one non-departmental faculty member. It is the student’s responsibility to contact all three members regarding their willingness to serve. All signatures should be obtained before the form is submitted. A final oral examination is required for Plan A M.S. degrees.

M.S. Plan B

COURSES

PROJECTS

Students must demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation by completing at least eight credits of Plan B Projects (CHEM 8081 & 8082).

Each Plan B project should involve a total of approximately 160 hours (the equivalent of approximately four full-time weeks) of library research, reading, and/or writing. Each should result in the preparation of a significant written document. Students who plan to work on Plan B projects independent of the Preliminary Examination should present a plan to the DGS, after consultation with the chosen instructor for the Plan B project, outlining the number and content of the projects. Projects should be completed to the satisfaction of the instructor, and the grade is determined by that instructor.

Students who are completing the Plan B projects as part of the Preliminary Examination can find guidelines regarding the two projects at the end of this chapter (p xx). The grades for the two projects will be determined by the Oral Preliminary Examination Committee.

FINAL EXAMINATION

The Graduate School requires a final examination for Plan B candidates; this may be written, oral or both. Students should make the Plan B project(s) available to the examining committee for its review well in advance of the final examination. Final orals are conducted as closed examinations, attended only by the student and the examining committee. All committee members must be present at the oral examination, either in person, on the phone, or online; the absence of any member results in an invalid examination. Click here to jump to details on how to prepare for your M.S. Plan B final exam.

M.S. Plan C

COURSES

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the general field of chemistry. All CHEM courses must be at the graduate level (5xxx or 8xxx), but up to three 4xxx courses for a total of no more than nine credits from other departments are allowed with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies. Courses from other departments at the 5xxx level and higher may also be appropriate, but also require approval from the Director of Graduate Studies. One credit each for the CHEM 8066 ethics and CHEM 8601 seminar course count towards the 30 credit total. These two courses, or equivalents in other departments, are required of all M.S. Plan C students.

Reinstatement Into the Ph.D. Program (for students previously reclassified as M.S. degree students)

In general, when students are reclassified from the Ph.D. program into the M.S. program, it is recommended that they reconsider their plan of study with the goal of attaining a terminal M.S. degree within four terms of beginning in the Chemistry graduate program or within a minimum number of terms after the change in program status. In certain exceptional circumstances in the course of pursuing an M.S. degree, a student may demonstrate such improvement in coursework and/or research that reconsideration of the status in the Ph.D. program is called for. The procedure for requesting such reconsideration consists of two steps:

1. Petition to the TMC. If at least two thirds of the TMC recommends reinstatement into the Ph.D. program, the student may undertake step 2.
2. Petition to the Department of Chemistry Graduate Committee. Upon written request of the student and a signed request by two thirds or more of the TMC stating reasons for reconsideration, the Graduate Committee will meet formally and make a recommendation.

In no case may the reinstatement request be initiated (Step 1 above) less than one full term after the completion of the term on which the original reclassification to M.S. program was based. Furthermore, since the Graduate School allows only one possible retake of the oral preliminary examination for the Ph.D., students who fail this examination twice may not petition for reinstatement.